When Sadness Is at Your Door
by Eva Eland (Author)
A comforting primer in emotional literacy and mindfulness that suggests we approach the feeling of sadness as if it is our guest.
Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are--an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation.
In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.
Simple illustrations that recall the classic style of Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) invite readers to add their own impressions.
Eva Eland's debut picture book is a great primer in mindfulness and emotional literacy, perfect for kids navigating these new feelings--and for adult readers tackling the feelings themselves!
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 3—This gentle book portrays sadness as a large pale green visitor that appears at the door, suitcase in hand. "It follows you around...and sits so close to you, you can hardly breathe." The narrator advises the host—a small child—not to hide his sadness or be afraid. "Listen to it. Ask where it comes from and what it needs. If you don't understand each other, just sit together and be quiet for a while." Then, try doing something comforting together like drawing, listening to music, or drinking cocoa. And, just as it came, unexpectedly, one day it will be gone. By focusing on the feeling, rather than the circumstance, the book speaks to readers of all ages and backgrounds. The portrayal of the feeling as so much larger than the boy helps convey the overwhelming nature of the emotion. The front endpapers show people of different ages in sad, thoughtful poses with the green creature interspersed—laying down, crying, staring at the ground, etc. The back endpapers show "sadness" doing yoga, petting a cat, taking a bath, eating an ice cream, getting a hug...finding comfort where it can. The handwritten text and illustrative sketches are rendered in brown on cream paper with pale red and green accents. VERDICT This quiet book is both constructive and reassuring and recommended for any collection with a bibliotherapy section.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Publishers Weekly
In a deeply sensitive story, Eland personifies Sadness as a pear-shaped, mint green-colored character. The "you" in the story is a quiet child rendered in simple lines. Sadness is the child's constant companion, but after communicating with Sadness ("Listen to it. Ask where it comes from and what it needs."), the figure no longer seems like a burden. The two take a walk in the forest, listening together to the sounds of trees, and exchange a warm hug. At last, the child wakes to Sadness gone: "Don't worry--today is a new day." Sadness, Eland expresses, need not always feel like an intrusive guest--rather, it's one whose arrival warrants attention, reflection, and care. Ages 3-7. (Jan.)
Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV009000 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | General
JUV039240 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Depression & Mental Illness
